Thoughts on straightening soft top frame

old jeep new to me

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
May 13, 2018
Messages
134
Location
georgia
My 97s soft top is loose feeling on the driver's top corner, you can pull down on it pretty easy which also makes the side/ rear window not very tight. After looking at it for a while I noticed that the tube frame next to the driver's side window is slightly bent compared to the passenger side. I tried to unscrew the little torx screw and of course the side I need to unscrew just spins but the passenger side unscrews just fine. Anyone have any good ideas how to go about trying to straighten it out.

IMG_20190612_162028.jpg


IMG_20190612_162000.jpg
 
Place the passenger tube next to the installed driver tube. Then you will know if/how much the tube is off. You should be able to put a small Phillip's, Allen wrench, or similar to the backside of the striped screw and then unscrew it slowly with the pressure helping to thread it out. Once all is straightened out just use a longer bolt with washers on both ends to hold it all together.
 
You could probably get that thing straightened right where it's at. Just get someone to come over and while one of you grab it both high and low the other one can push on the area in the middle.
That sounds like it might work, the tube is pretty stout though but I'll give it a try.